How Narasimhan stayed loyal to UPA & NDA

Apr 21, 2019126 Shares

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan could become the longest-serving Indian Governor as he completes 12 years this June. Having worked as the head of Intelligence Bureau till 2006, he managed to develop good political connections during his tenure. Following his IB tenure, the UPA Government in January 2007 appointed him as the Governor of Chhattisgarh. He was known to be loyal to Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel during his tenure as the Governor.

In January 2010, following the Telangana agitation in united Andhra Pradesh, the UPA government moved him to the state as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Narasimhan also played a key role in conveying the news of the Telangana movement and its sentiments to the Centre. Eventually, he also played a key role in framing the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. In 2012, when the UPA had agreed for bifurcation, Narasimhan's term was extended further by 5 years. After this, he also became the Governor of Telangana.

However, when the NDA government took over in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh was given an option to choose its own Governor. While Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of AP, wanted someone who wasn't loyal to the UPA, Narasimhan, a political science student, began playing his strategies and influenced the TDP to keep him as the Governor. He had spoken to TDP MP Y.S. Chowdary and said that the BJP had plans to appoint an RSS man as the Governor of AP.

Following this message from Y.S. Chowdary, Chandrababu decided to retain Narasimhan as having an RSS man as the Governor could create issues for the state. But, Narasimhan slowly cozied up to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre while in Telangana he became a loyal friend to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. According to BJP leaders in Andhra Pradesh, Narasimhan is one of the main reasons for tension cropping up between the TDP and BJP which led to the TDP walking out of NDA. While Narasimhan favored the Telangana state, much of his dislike for Chandrababu resulted in a loss for Andhra Pradesh in terms of Centre's help.

However, following the break-up of TDP and BJP, Narasimhan also played a key role in covering to the Modi government at the Centre that he could bring the TRS and YSR Congress together, in terms of support if the BJP fell short of number for the Lok Sabha elections. In the process, Narasimhan's bias for Telangana became clearly visible while he is still being continued as the Governor of the Telugu states. Now, with his term extended again for his loyalty towards the NDA, he has beaten the record of former Governor of AP Surjith Singh Barnala who served 11 years and is serving his 12th term this year.

Whatever Narasimhan has done has definitely worked in the interest of the Telangana state after bifurcation. However, more than the Centre, he has done more damage to Andhra Pradesh by worsening the state's relations with the Centre.